Starting a D.A.R.E. Program

Thank you for your interest in making a positive difference in the lives of children. The D.A.R.E. program teaches students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and responsible lives.

Founded in 1983 by Los Angeles Police Department, today more than 15,000 D.A.R.E. officers and deputies are in over 10,000 communities nationwide educating America’s youth and serving as the first line of defense in America’s schools.

The D.A.R.E. program is taught in all 50 states, and 49 other countries. All curricula are science-based, age appropriate, and written by a national panel of curriculum and prevention experts. The D.A.R.E.currciula meets the core educational standards of health, language arts, and math.

D.A.R.E. meets the needs of communities and schools as it relates to “bullying”.

The basic 80 hour D.A.R.E. Officer Training (DOT) allows a police officer or deputy to teach both the elementary curriculum and the middle school curriculum.

D.A.R.E. has new elementary and middle school curriculums, keepin’ it REAL (kiR). The D.A.R.E. kiR middle school curriculum which is an evidence based program listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).

Officers

A D.A.R.E. Instructor must be a uniformed law enforcement officer, meeting the minimum training standards for peace officer status in their state of residence, and who has completed the equivalent of two years as a peace officer with full police powers. Additionally, the D.A.R.E. Instructor candidate’s employing police agency shall have a memorandum of understanding with concerned school district(s) allowing implementation of D.A.R.E. after completion of the candidate’s training.

If you are a parent or caregiver in a community where D.A.R.E. is already taught but is not in your school at the present time please contact your school administrator/principal and request the local law enforcement agency begin to teach D.A.R.E. at your school.

If D.A.R.E. is not currently in your community, begin by talking to other like-minded parents and caregivers and approach the local school administrator/principal to discuss your concerns and your interest in the D.A.R.E. program. Please feel free to bring this information with you. Once the school has agreed, contact the local law enforcement agency and request a meeting to discuss those same concerns and your interest in the D.A.R.E. program. Once the law enforcement agency expresses interest suggest they contact the Regional Director or the D.A.R.E. Coordinator for your state. You can also call D.A.R.E. America Headquarters at (800) 223-3273.

Some FAQs and Links that will also help you obtain more information on starting a D.A.R.E. program.

Only the cost of a student’s D.A.R.E. workbook/planner, $1.29 per child. For a new or returning D.A.R.E. placement, student workbooks and instructors instructional materials are provided free by D.A.R.E. America in the first year.

Who can present D.A.R.E.?

A uniformed law enforcement officer that’s certified by state and who’s been specially trained to teach D.A.R.E. to your kids.